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Ferrera is of Honduran descent. His parents emigrated to the USA in the mid-1970s.
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One of the biggest surprises of the Oscar nominations announced Tuesday in Los Angeles was America Ferrera's nomination for her supporting role in “Barbie.”
Ferrera plays in the film about the Mattel doll Famea real-life mother dealing with doubts and frustrations while trying to reconnect with her teenage daughter.
At one point in the film, Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) becomes frustrated and cries as she realizes that “Barbieland” – Barbie's world – has become a patriarchy dominated by the Kens.
And then it comes one of the highlights of the film: Ferrera shows off his acting skills in a 2 minute and 18 second monologue lists the contradictory demands that modern society places on women.
“We always have to be exceptional, but somehow we always get it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin, and you can never say that you want to be thin, you have to say that you want to be healthy, but “You have to be thin too,” he says to Barbie as a consolation.
“One must never grow old, never be rude, never brag, never be selfish, never fall, never fail, never show fear, never step out of line, It's too difficult, it's too contradictory” he adds.
It's a moment of great emotional intensity in which the actress of Honduran descent steals the show and makes it clear that the film is about much more than just a blonde plastic doll.
After the release of “Barbie,” Ferrera’s monologue was widely commented on and went viral on social media.
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Ferrera with Greta Gerwig, the film's director, and Margot Robbie celebrate the Golden Globe that the film received for its box office success.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ferrera said: “I read the monologue and found it powerful and meaningful. Aside from that.” I felt it was a gift for an actor to be able to say something so cathartic and sincere.“.
“But I also felt like it was a pivotal moment that I obviously didn’t want to mess up. There was some healthy pressure,” he added.
For her part, the film's director, Greta Gerwig, told The Atlantic: “When America gave her beautiful speech, I was sobbing, and then I looked around and realized everyone on set was crying.”
Ferrera said the scene took two days to film He had to repeat it between 30 and 50 times from start to finish.
This moment in the film was undoubtedly pivotal in her nomination, considering her time as a supporting actress is limited on screen.
“Her monologue in the film about what it means to be a woman clearly connected to the Academy's voterssaid Steven McIntosh, senior culture reporter at BBC News, on Tuesday.
Her Oscar nomination is surprising as Ferrera was not nominated for the Golden Globes, the British Academy Baftas or the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG).
“An extraordinary success”
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Ferrera in her role as Betty Suárez.
Before her role in “Barbie,” the actress played Betty Suárez in “Ugly Betty,” the American version of the famous Colombian soap opera “Ugly Betty.”
He was chosen for this role the first Latina to win an Emmy.
Ferrera acknowledges that her success as a Latina actress is extraordinary.
“While I enjoy an incredible career full of opportunities that I have fought and worked hard for, I know that the great reality for Latinos in this industry today is as difficult as it was 16 or even 22 years ago when I started,” the actress said told the BBC, which included her in its 2023 list of 100 women who excel in their respective fields.
In addition to America Ferrera's nomination: ““Barbie” received 7 nominations more about the Oscars, which will be awarded on March 10th, including for best film and best adapted screenplay.
However, leading actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were not nominated in their respective categories.
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